tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84250426447822296682017-08-17T18:59:10.761-07:00Study Abroad with Hawkeye Community CollegeHawkeye Community Collegehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11631433789679968968noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-9162494986713175372017-06-14T20:44:00.000-07:002017-06-14T20:44:12.200-07:00Brazilian Thrills<span id="docs-internal-guid-f582275f-a9d1-b01f-1827-3dc5453e8116"><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever wondered what it might be like to be 18-years-old and travel to another country, fly for the first time, and not know the language? Well, I can give you first-hand account on how this all happened to me. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; clear: right; color: #212121; float: right; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="362" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/r-LQsS7WTZoHq1DXlCwAIfwLXMALjyeYmEq7-yhk_4Q7I-l17_ihGOafzVbY2q1_0ilqzx7DCq_INlbxr1fukj9SnYAU86Jl7X8yXIRh7rfIWoBg3UESKzOApksnRYwTNJnUME81" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="289" /><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To start off, an agriculture instructor from Hawkeye Community College talked to me about studying abroad in Brazil the first semester of my freshman year. I thought it would be an awesome experience; what a great way to travel and learn! Fast forward to a few short months later and I found myself landing in Brasilia, Brazil.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was elated by the way everything looked; it was so different from the Iowa scenery. The buildings were all open with no doors; it felt so nice with a little bit of breeze and seventy degree weather. Right away we met people that were so welcoming and friendly. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first few hours in Brazilia were spent in a mall, a perfect place for a broke, 18-year- old, college student. The mall consisted of shoe, shoe, and more shoe stores! Of course clothing, jewelry food courts, and small coffee shops could also be found. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After taking in a bit of the culture I stopped and rested for a little while, not realizing how hungry I was. This brought me to my first challenge: ordering a meal in another language was easier said than done! &nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #212121; float: left; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img alt="IMG_5952.JPG" height="358" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KQUpSjC0DXYuOFP8M2aXYOfsWe7iynJx94Kj1u-vRYoxkRGvxs4f2LezHD9eT1nYSTiCW3N90d0nMYdmnBXz44XACEOnmrcSU2oi1ORyJKX5FGrTGEm_9oNNJaS_6CJQ4PfI11tA" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="202" /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Over the next week I experienced so much: museums, churches, government buildings, grocery stores, departments of agriculture and the nightlife. We visited different types of farms and so much more. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What I felt was a whole world of other thrills. It’s so hard to justly describe an experience on paper because how I felt is so much more then words can describe.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dining out was always a new adventure. One night we walked to a pizza restaurant. On our journey, we walked along the riverside where the culture was alive and thriving. I saw locals going for walks with their kids, groups of runners, and my favorite part, the soccer courts. Many soccer courts were filled with people on hillsides watching.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On our way back we stopped to watch a soccer game. I was thrilled when a younger boy signaled for us to come play! Since I have been playing soccer my whole life and currently for Hawkeye Community College, of course I deep down wanted to play, and here was my chance. My friends were a little hesitant, but the Brazilians were encouraging. The feeling was welcoming, and even though they were speaking another language, a wave, smile, and a soccer ball connected us.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="314" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/3rC1tBokTcu-49ctr_lsb0EWoorzVCDbaHULNUYUAQ-Dk9b55pyaixx5qrRlj-HMG55Li8X_NBCtZHAHLGPE35uVH_z5XSY0_A4y_Zy5PAdFoYgqWnbU2VS-j_8PUD38KsyXaUmN" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="422" /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;"></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another connection was the music; so many people were laughing and singing as we went out with friends from Brazil who previously studied at Hawkeye Community College. I saw a live band, and even though I had no clue what the lyrics meant, the presence of people dancing, bouncing around, and enjoying life was inspirational. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #212121; float: left; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="303" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/sm-pPMLTCmCpdeGCup4JkUXc70NzvGqxCNn3PQ8qiberdCzAUeo24Skptzp16z4PlXfpapOE9pIwIQZz4mjEVzWavpWEahdERCYj_5hGwRwxVCwMSegYQzZrZHCowGGzq3Ojj4Ca" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="407" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Some days, learning and traveling wore me out. At the hotel, it was nice to relax at the top in the pool reviewing the day, cracking some jokes, and kicking our feet up. Another day we were in the hot fields with agronomists from Eres Agrob. They took us out on their boat on the along the same river we played soccer by. It was so fascinating to be on the river on such nice nights. Again, my words fall short of fully detailing my experience, but I hope my Brazilian thrills could give you a glimpse of what life is like in Brazil. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>Kristi Mensenhttps://plus.google.com/114622394550472305036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-34494265874133688252017-05-03T15:02:00.001-07:002017-05-03T15:02:44.446-07:00Laticínios (Dairy Farming)<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-right: 2pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">March 14th finally arrived! The Hawkeye Community College 2017 Brazil Study Abroad group had the opportunity to tour a dairy farm, Piracanjuba Pro-Campo. Visiting the dairy farm was exciting for me coming from a dairy background. The purpose of this dairy farm was to train new farmers on milking, feeding, breeding, and much more. Piracanjuba Pro-Campo had 480 cows, milking 200 of the cows twice a day. The diary managers taught their milking practices in a parlor, similar to what we have in the United States, but everything was open. The location of Brazil we were visiting does not have much dairy farming, but people are willing to learn and start their own farms. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="261" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/4kyeBchZ4oN8iYl-Y5Zg-RnRpGvSibRO6ShBDLdwAgEAZ1KjkFeZ8voLVZ1G5cFNcESbVSff5oW8JJKiwHxEM9y79INGR_FoLguDfLt3IDV9EVSMHCtJ9eWRjRc9n-Htypa8pHzA" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span></div><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The farm was awesome and I am so fortunate that we got to tour it; it felt like home away from home. Some noticeable differences included the way their milk trucks looked, year round heat, and technology. While there were some contrasts to the form of farming I am use to, the fresh smell of grass was still the sweet, summer smell of Iowa.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img height="298" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_eYnSKmYDypGgPkEl3-UUUB1ULKhfuvUt13r-GmmxuJ4kOr5MSoA0JjvzW7dMhHNquvKCQDmlXTHGMnLrXWbwj_YaHjkicyzzXNEFGaI4d8hVPc7NNzbZl_v_0jFARpjlYv2ZwPx" style="border: none; transform: rotate(0rad);" width="400" /></span></div><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I got to share a lot of my stories from my dairy farm with the farm manager. Via live feed, the managers were able to view Holstein cows being milked by a robot. Also, I was able to show them the setup of my dairy barn and other cattle buildings through pictures. The farm workers were very impressed by the modern technology used in Iowa. Showing them my pictures struck up conversations and lots of questions about each other's ways of dairy farming. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <img alt="Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, standing and outdoor" height="265" src="https://scontent-ord1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/17436041_10211931680757876_5856349876573809101_o.jpg?oh=a666029c84e8461411068621f1d95c43&amp;oe=597DBEBC" width="400" /></span></div>Kristi Mensenhttps://plus.google.com/114622394550472305036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-74503450217113283142017-03-26T15:43:00.001-07:002017-03-26T15:43:59.409-07:00Soil Testing with the Haitians <br /><div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">While in Haiti, the Hawkeye Community College group had the opportunity to check out the UCC University’s garden. We traveled out to the garden by bus with some students from UCC that came back early from their Christmas break. The garden was about a five minute drive away from the university. Once we arrived we had a little bit of a walk to get to the actual garden. The garden was located by a small stream where they had a small canal to help with watering their garden during the dry season. The garden was 156 square meters according to what one of the students told me. The students were growing all sorts of produce such as onions, sweet pepper, cabbage, kale, and a few other things. The Hawkeye Community College group split up into groups with the students so we could collect soil from the student’s specific part of the garden, as well as talk about any concerns or issues they were having with their crop. Tessa Meyer and I were in a group with four UCC students. We collected soil from two different locations of sweet pepper. We explained to the students why we collected the soil and what we would do with it once we returned to the UCC campus. Once all the soil was collected we headed back to UCC. We were unable to test the soil that day so we had to wait until the next day. The next day the Hawkeye Community College group broke into groups again to work with the students to soil test. We had soil testing kits to test the soil but the students were unsure how to use them so we had the opportunity to teach them. While testing the soil, we found that the soil from their garden had a pH of 7.5, the nitrogen level was low, as well as the phosphorus and potassium levels. We then talked in our group how they could improve their soil and what they could do to change the levels they were receiving. Soil testing with the Haitians was a learning experience for both me and them. It was so rewarding knowing I helped teach them something that can improve their lifestyle little by little. </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w5Z7BM32Aqs/WNhEBMy5eLI/AAAAAAAAABM/AimPhpBepvE_Znzz1JR34DcAg7JPapsxACLcB/s1600/haiti%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w5Z7BM32Aqs/WNhEBMy5eLI/AAAAAAAAABM/AimPhpBepvE_Znzz1JR34DcAg7JPapsxACLcB/s1600/haiti%2B3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgjZ0GJWzVY/WNhEFADptRI/AAAAAAAAABQ/xl6AM1cF_9AOlYqVnlXXeR0DbWbPtdjswCLcB/s1600/haiti%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgjZ0GJWzVY/WNhEFADptRI/AAAAAAAAABQ/xl6AM1cF_9AOlYqVnlXXeR0DbWbPtdjswCLcB/s1600/haiti%2B4.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-408m196yiMA/WNhEIS97XeI/AAAAAAAAABU/uNzIdsWzIcwWiJZqSqCw6qzbtNLzOq6pQCLcB/s1600/haiti%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-408m196yiMA/WNhEIS97XeI/AAAAAAAAABU/uNzIdsWzIcwWiJZqSqCw6qzbtNLzOq6pQCLcB/s1600/haiti%2B6.jpg" /></a></div>Katelin Pagelhttps://plus.google.com/100217426801728228042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-42933679895116863422017-03-26T15:41:00.002-07:002017-03-26T15:41:40.092-07:00Giggles and Gifts<span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">One of the most heartwarming parts of the Haiti trip was passing out Christmas gifts to local children at feeding centers. The group members from Hawkeye Community College, our translators, and our host daughter, Kerri, all loaded a bus. We drove to a nearby feeding center with a boxes full of gifts for these very deserving children. When we arrived at the feeding center, the children were all seated inside. The smiles on their faces were priceless when we arrived. They were all so excited to see our group, as well as see us bring in boxes after boxes full of presents for them. There were about 60 kids just sitting at the end of their seats waiting to receive their gifts. Before they were able to get their gifts, Kerri decided it would be a good idea to sing songs and play games with them. Our translators led the children in song. They sang songs such as “Jesus Loves Me”, “Father Abraham”, and a few more. Although the kids were singing these songs in Haitian Creole, we could still understand from the beat. It was such an awesome experience to be able to clap, dance, and sing along, despite the language barrier. After we sang a few songs, we went outside to play games with the kids. The Hawkeye Community College group split up so all the kids would be able to hang out with at least one of us. Tessa Meyer, a sophomore at Hawkeye Community College, and Meghan Bond, an Agriculture Professor, and I split up into a group and taught the children how to play “duck, duck, goose”. The children called it “zwa, zwa, goose” which I later found out just meant “goose, goose, goose”. We played “zwa, zwa, goose” for about a half hour and it was nothing but giggles and smiles from the children the whole time. After 30 minutes passed we all went back into the feeding center to pass out the gifts. Each gift had the picture and name of the child in the bag so we knew who the gift went to. Kerri called out the names of the children and then they formed a line outside so we could take a picture of them with their new gifts so send to the person who sponsored them. When they left the feeding center, all the children were so happy and full of excitement and that was so rewarding to see. Passing out gifts to these children who don’t have much to call their own was so rewarding and humbling and it is not something I will soon forget. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UzX-NNgMXYc/WNhDbamvZuI/AAAAAAAAABE/iK3UnouAVVEGnBC0UEC7JxNXL5_k2B-UACLcB/s1600/haiti%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UzX-NNgMXYc/WNhDbamvZuI/AAAAAAAAABE/iK3UnouAVVEGnBC0UEC7JxNXL5_k2B-UACLcB/s1600/haiti%2B5.jpg" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">&nbsp;</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6kusj8dCTy0/WNhDjwrJ3kI/AAAAAAAAABI/tqh7BdV8f7oqbf_wEPbNUgw4_Y8OkLkMwCLcB/s1600/haiti%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span><br /></div><br />Katelin Pagelhttps://plus.google.com/100217426801728228042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-14094335858731427062017-03-26T14:07:00.001-07:002017-03-26T14:07:20.493-07:00Education in Agriculture is Feeding the Haitians <br /><div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">While in Haiti, the Hawkeye Community College gang took part in an Agriculture Summit. The summit was put on by the Agriculture students and Agriculture Dean at UCCC. The summit lasted two days and was held at the UCCC campus. Over 200 Haitian farmers attended and some walked over an hour just to be in attendance. The summit started at 9:00am and all the farmers were early because they were so excited, as were we! As the farmers arrived, the students from Hawkeye, including myself put name tags on every person in attendance. It was very difficult for us because the Haitians couldn’t speak English, luckily we had great translators. It was so touching to get to know the Haitians name and get to chat with them a bit before the summit started. At the Ag Summit, many different aspects of agriculture were touched on. Agriculture students from UCCC presented their studies that they have been working very hard on. One study was using in season fertilizer on their crops and the results were amazing. Haitian farmers were shocked that this method worked and the Hawkeye Community College gang was amazed at how well their study worked. Two years ago the students corn was only producing 20 bushels/acre, and now with the help on in season fertilizer, their crops are producing 100 bushels/acre. One of the students thanked the crew from Hawkeye Community College for teaching them about using in season fertilizer saying “This has literally changed our lives”. This concept has now been proven to work in Haiti so local farmers are now considering using this to help with their crop production. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>The Agriculture Dean at UCCC and Professors from Hawkeye Community College then had a round table discussion about issues and new concepts in agriculture. This lasted for a very long time due to the fact that the Haitians are so eager to learn and solve hunger in their country. It was rewarding to have Haitian farmers learn from us, as well as learning from them. With enough education in agriculture, Haiti will be able to feed their people.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sg0ea59bqm8/WNgtb_noaHI/AAAAAAAAAAk/fbdudFR3n7kqSqt8fsa_dDmZsvsdRn9_ACLcB/s1600/Haiti%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sg0ea59bqm8/WNgtb_noaHI/AAAAAAAAAAk/fbdudFR3n7kqSqt8fsa_dDmZsvsdRn9_ACLcB/s1600/Haiti%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LaakpQJYeWU/WNgtdidqcxI/AAAAAAAAAAo/kJyhKsMXkuQCdB2EDusJqwtFwf3fZQK3ACLcB/s1600/Haiti%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LaakpQJYeWU/WNgtdidqcxI/AAAAAAAAAAo/kJyhKsMXkuQCdB2EDusJqwtFwf3fZQK3ACLcB/s1600/Haiti%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><br /> </div>Katelin Pagelhttps://plus.google.com/100217426801728228042noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-73681797099392363772016-11-28T08:50:00.001-08:002016-11-28T08:50:35.836-08:00Whole Haitian Experience Ultimately I enjoyed the trip to Haiti. It was an experience I may not ever get again. I got the opportunity to teach Haitian students about things that I grew up knowing and learning. Not only did I do some teaching, but the Haitians taught me two important things. One being that just because a farming practice works in eastern Iowa, it doesn't necessarily mean it will work anywhere else. The second thing they taught me is probably the most important. The Haitians taught me to not take for granted what I have. I am lucky enough to eat a meal 3 times a day everyday, which not many Haitians have that luxury.<br />One of my favorite things that I got the opportunity to teach the Haitians was that they can use animal manure as a fertilizer for their plants and add organic matter to their soil. Explaining to the Haitians that that they should pick up the manure from anywhere they see it, even if its on the side of the road. We suggested that they walk around with buckets and scoops to pick it up. At that point they thought us Americans were absolutely crazy that we collect manure. So one days while we were walking to the students gardens we picked up the manure we seen on the way, and added the manure into the soil around their plants. With the Haitians still thinking we were crazy, we continued to tell them that they can use peels from their fruit can be worked into the soil for the same reasons. Not that an orange or banana peel will necessarily &nbsp;fertilize the plants, but they will add organic matter and help with potassium amount of in the soil. By adding organic matter you can improve the soil conditions to grow a better crop. If they improve their crop, they will have more fruit and vegetable to eat or sell at the market.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5bg_vBy1sDo/WDxfy5AX4aI/AAAAAAAANyo/DIEm3CmI4ioHMmPMaF7cbJDtSzqaod61QCEw/s1600/IMG_3218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5bg_vBy1sDo/WDxfy5AX4aI/AAAAAAAANyo/DIEm3CmI4ioHMmPMaF7cbJDtSzqaod61QCEw/s320/IMG_3218.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uCiOsViLWFk/WDxf0acC2pI/AAAAAAAANys/8NNq63oYY8k6-wadXr4gj8klpy13hvlRgCEw/s1600/IMG_2866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uCiOsViLWFk/WDxf0acC2pI/AAAAAAAANys/8NNq63oYY8k6-wadXr4gj8klpy13hvlRgCEw/s320/IMG_2866.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vI5-T6HMgsM/WDxgU22BTkI/AAAAAAAANy0/t2vxrzwev2YvPf_adQzyJzdDvIj8pGAxgCLcB/s1600/20160106_150108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vI5-T6HMgsM/WDxgU22BTkI/AAAAAAAANy0/t2vxrzwev2YvPf_adQzyJzdDvIj8pGAxgCLcB/s320/20160106_150108.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Alex Wallerhttps://plus.google.com/108539946028797050896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-44668336140142350022016-09-05T14:27:00.000-07:002016-09-05T14:27:40.732-07:00Whatever Floats the Haiti Goats!<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">Being in Haiti was an experience for all of us, no one really prepares you for what you will see or hear, but it’s a great experience to get the opportunity to have. While we were there each one of us took the time to talk to the agriculture students at the university, about the practices of agriculture at home, since it’s A LOT different than it is in Haiti. It worked out perfect, because each one of us Ag students come from different backgrounds, our professor that went on the trip Meghan, and Mitch have great crop farming back ground, Dalton and Kyle come from Hog raising backgrounds. And I was kind of the odd one out, I come from a dairy cow and goat operation. <o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">One day while we were there we went to look at the universities goat herd, which was one thing that I was interested and excited to see how it compares to some in the United States. In all reality what they have or did, doesn’t compare to operations in the U.S, it was basically an open pasture, that didn’t have much grass, with 25 goats. The animal science professor from the university came out to talk to us about the goats, and he grabbed one and then started to show us what he was talking about. On this particular goat he had, she has an infection in her ear, he was then explaining that he was going to treat the infection with some antibiotic. But like any person with a farm animal background, you have to be care what you give an animal, because if that animal is pregnant that medicine you give it could abort the baby she is carrying.&nbsp; With this goat, the professor started to explain how they preg check, which is not the most ethical thing, and something that no one in the United States would ever think about doing to their animals. They preg check by, cutting off the goats airways, and waiting for its 2 back legs to shake, once they begin to shake, they let go so the goat doesn’t pass out. When they let go, if the goats pee’s its pregnant and if it doesn’t she open. Me being from a dairy goat operation, I didn’t believe in the science of it and told him I wouldn’t try that on the goats at home. But whatever was Floating his Goat!<o:p></o:p><br /><br /></div>Alex Wallerhttps://plus.google.com/108539946028797050896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-20150648303094068472016-04-30T22:03:00.000-07:002016-04-30T22:03:00.692-07:00Fianl Thoughts From Costa Rica<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My final month here in Costa Rica has been far more eventful than I could have imagined. The first weekend I took my first ferry ride from Puntarenas to Paquera. It was a different experience to take a boat as public transport. Once we arrived in Paquera we had a two kilometers hike to the beach to see the phenomenal bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is when living organisms naturally produce light. It occurs widely in marine life and in some invertebrate animals, such as fireflies. Because the bioluminescence is activated by touch, we waited until nightfall and kayaked through the water. As the paddles of the kayak and our hands touched the water, the brightness increased. Running my hand through the water and seeing it light up made me feel a sense of power, as if I had some sort of “magic touch.”</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7crXnJLxk4o/VyWGz6YtxLI/AAAAAAAAAJI/mhC4fGFYxhsCJaGkITy20XOU_e_ID0UhwCLcB/s1600/13101011_233145853730331_771145493_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7crXnJLxk4o/VyWGz6YtxLI/AAAAAAAAAJI/mhC4fGFYxhsCJaGkITy20XOU_e_ID0UhwCLcB/s320/13101011_233145853730331_771145493_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>First time riding on a ferry and enjoying phenomenon of bioluminescence</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next day our group traveled to Montezuma. There were many people there, both tourists and locals. We all camped on the beach and my friends and I met a local man who took me fishing the next day. We went fishing in Playa Tambor, about 15 kilometers away from Montezuma. The fishing spot was populated by locals only and I enjoyed seeing how Ticos and Ticas spend their weekends.</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LtiwovXvaYo/VyWGxId85dI/AAAAAAAAAJE/N-dNTe4CNOgFKk2k26g5otEU3xy8QYHPgCLcB/s1600/13100985_233146017063648_1471351277_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LtiwovXvaYo/VyWGxId85dI/AAAAAAAAAJE/N-dNTe4CNOgFKk2k26g5otEU3xy8QYHPgCLcB/s320/13100985_233146017063648_1471351277_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Camping on a beach in &nbsp;Montezuma</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lzJESQ_J-48/VyWGuuEF8OI/AAAAAAAAAJA/RnVCSN2IDFMwy7lc4vMRObE38N0lgHIaACLcB/s1600/13081961_233145833730333_1931978477_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lzJESQ_J-48/VyWGuuEF8OI/AAAAAAAAAJA/RnVCSN2IDFMwy7lc4vMRObE38N0lgHIaACLcB/s320/13081961_233145833730333_1931978477_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Enjoying fishing with &nbsp;my new friend in Playa Tambor</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;">The following weekend we traveled to Monteverde, approximately 140 kilometers from San José. This weekend was full of adrenaline-pumping excitement. The first day we all went zip lining and on a Tarzan Swing. I had never been on a Tarzan Swing before and that was an extremely exhilarating experience. The next day was nerve-wracking. We went bungee jumping from the tallest bungee jump in Central America! It took me four minutes to gather the courage to finally jump! During the long ride back to Chepe (what the locals call San José) I could still feel my heart racing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qn3Om9JPAcQ/VyWG4XrDWhI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/UQvBwqwFsoYQDBlYU_wqNDWdoiAKy-QmACLcB/s1600/13120434_233145793730337_1687121801_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qn3Om9JPAcQ/VyWG4XrDWhI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/UQvBwqwFsoYQDBlYU_wqNDWdoiAKy-QmACLcB/s320/13120434_233145793730337_1687121801_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Monkeying around after bungee jumping. What a nerve-wracking experience!</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;">That week my friends and I went to una partido de fútbol (soccer game). I was supporting Saprissa, my Mama Tica’s favorite team. The game ended in a draw between Saprissa and Limón. I enjoyed talking to other fans of the game and bantering with fans of the opposite team. As my Spanish improves, I am more confident and am able to showcase my personality in both English and Español.</span><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rY3Xc8oxGc0/VyWBopOu_AI/AAAAAAAAAIk/aWq2xE8NfWsLj228dbYP7zZ6LXtBXbq9QCKgB/s1600/13148137_233133820398201_521574429_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rY3Xc8oxGc0/VyWBopOu_AI/AAAAAAAAAIk/aWq2xE8NfWsLj228dbYP7zZ6LXtBXbq9QCKgB/s320/13148137_233133820398201_521574429_o.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.4px; text-align: start;"><b>¡Vamos Saprissa!</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My final weekend here was spent entirely with my host family and roommate. We all went out to dinner at a local restaurant and had a lovely last supper. Realizing that I have to leave the people I have called family over the last semester has taken a bit of an emotional toll on me. I have grown so attached to the people and even pets. The relationships I have made over the last semester will be carried in a special place in my heart forever. Although I will miss Costa Rica, I am excited to return to my home in Iowa</span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EwlEJHtWjaA/VyWG2Pq4z1I/AAAAAAAAAJM/wpbJXS6t_dIVbEh1mRn5Pi_QkAkAWpmRwCLcB/s1600/13105860_233145897063660_736262656_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EwlEJHtWjaA/VyWG2Pq4z1I/AAAAAAAAAJM/wpbJXS6t_dIVbEh1mRn5Pi_QkAkAWpmRwCLcB/s320/13105860_233145897063660_736262656_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>La cena final con mi familia</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17.94px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>Adlilke Charleshttps://plus.google.com/103778499893556374043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-48172687493242532022016-03-31T19:49:00.000-07:002016-05-24T14:04:50.877-07:00STUDY ABROAD IN COSTA RICA 3 ( weekend in Nicaragua).<br /><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cIh9_scsJeM/Vv3Wd__htDI/AAAAAAAAAGM/lFqGMnsewHEfV9VhVvbasNi9TfFkcCeSg/s1600/12922165_211635399214710_1427232326_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cIh9_scsJeM/Vv3Wd__htDI/AAAAAAAAAGM/lFqGMnsewHEfV9VhVvbasNi9TfFkcCeSg/s320/12922165_211635399214710_1427232326_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> View from the hotel I stayed in Granada</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8svCbZJm28/Vv3ZNC0RDkI/AAAAAAAAAHA/JlF95nc6MnEFObawNfx0KW8bHR1TPniwQ/s1600/12899830_211640805880836_621992606_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 15.36px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w8svCbZJm28/Vv3ZNC0RDkI/AAAAAAAAAHA/JlF95nc6MnEFObawNfx0KW8bHR1TPniwQ/s320/12899830_211640805880836_621992606_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Pictures with some street performers.</span><br /><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gn3cKHfqhWg/Vv3XQc4FVaI/AAAAAAAAAGw/QizeWMFlalgmwkUanPN64Afpb9e4nO95g/s1600/12935212_211633065881610_1216772865_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gn3cKHfqhWg/Vv3XQc4FVaI/AAAAAAAAAGw/QizeWMFlalgmwkUanPN64Afpb9e4nO95g/s320/12935212_211633065881610_1216772865_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Inside and view from the prison. </span><br /><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vaM6bUSw8Bc/Vv3XKq5DOxI/AAAAAAAAAGo/AVJzhMIS_ek8-v0Y4GlzUvcIs72wYSU7w/s1600/12903893_211633075881609_1499466275_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vaM6bUSw8Bc/Vv3XKq5DOxI/AAAAAAAAAGo/AVJzhMIS_ek8-v0Y4GlzUvcIs72wYSU7w/s320/12903893_211633075881609_1499466275_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;I learned a lot about pottery then made one with the help of an employee.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QLZy7CSlOtk/Vv3b_ZhXmcI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/_jAuS4OAVMM4iOIJxSqSTdlPRPAmDC_kg/s1600/12919522_211650792546504_970221826_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QLZy7CSlOtk/Vv3b_ZhXmcI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/_jAuS4OAVMM4iOIJxSqSTdlPRPAmDC_kg/s320/12919522_211650792546504_970221826_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: #373e4d;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The first picture is La Sombra de Sandino ( </span></span><span style="background-color: white; text-align: center;">The shadow of Sandino overlooks Nicaragua from the site of his 1934 assassination)</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: #373e4d; font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The second Image is La antigua Catedral de Managua (</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 36px;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">Old Cathedral of Managua)</span></span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #fefefe; font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br /><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJcSClbiO-k/Vv3Xh9wQToI/AAAAAAAAAG4/bHyiM1JDbBssT4ilsoU-kHVe6TKQdWQXQ/s1600/12941113_211633049214945_1480971113_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJcSClbiO-k/Vv3Xh9wQToI/AAAAAAAAAG4/bHyiM1JDbBssT4ilsoU-kHVe6TKQdWQXQ/s320/12941113_211633049214945_1480971113_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Tour of Managua using horse carriage<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KpvNUhwDNo4/Vv3XT3M8itI/AAAAAAAAAGw/QhdGH8YpnRI5x7xIpmCv1i2w1jG4wnD_A/s1600/12948453_211633095881607_868850264_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KpvNUhwDNo4/Vv3XT3M8itI/AAAAAAAAAGw/QhdGH8YpnRI5x7xIpmCv1i2w1jG4wnD_A/s320/12948453_211633095881607_868850264_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; MASAYA VOLCANO<br /><span style="background-color: #fefefe; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: #373e4d;"></span>The food there was delicious, and there was a large variety. It depends on the province what kind of food you eat, and my hotel was near a market which allowed me to try a lot of different types of food.</span></span><br /><span style="background-color: #fefefe; color: #373e4d; line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-golD27WISrw/Vv3XsNzRB7I/AAAAAAAAAG4/4q3p3OzJhoU8k9B4eejOIyIY8ALaJj75Q/s1600/12921965_211633002548283_355948062_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-golD27WISrw/Vv3XsNzRB7I/AAAAAAAAAG4/4q3p3OzJhoU8k9B4eejOIyIY8ALaJj75Q/s320/12921965_211633002548283_355948062_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: #fefefe;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: #373e4d;"><span style="line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">The first one is called pebre (Skin of pig's head). It was in the fridge for a while, I had to microwave it to make soupy.</span></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;">The second one is called sopa de mondog</span>o ( made from the stomach of a cow, slowly cooked with different vegetables).</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="background-color: #fefefe;"><span style="font-family: &quot;times&quot; , &quot;times new roman&quot; , serif;"><span style="color: #373e4d;"><span style="line-height: 15.36px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></span></span></span>Adlilke Charleshttps://plus.google.com/103778499893556374043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-16802270059265670712016-02-26T05:51:00.001-08:002016-05-24T13:41:13.856-07:00STUDY ABROAD IN COSTA RICA 2<ul aria-atomic="false" aria-live="polite" aria-relevant="additions" class="uiList _2ne _4kg" id="webMessengerRecentMessages" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.08px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><li class="webMessengerMessageGroup clearfix" id="wm:mid.1456268097159:7c1bb1b22764631a16" style="border-width: 1px 0px 0px; padding: 8px 20px 7px; position: relative; zoom: 1;"><div class="clearfix" style="zoom: 1;"><div class="clearfix _42ef" style="overflow: hidden; zoom: 1;"><div class="_37"><div class="_53"><div class="_3hi clearfix" style="zoom: 1;"><div class="_38 direction_ltr" style="direction: ltr; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38; margin-right: 50px;"><span class="null"></span><br /><span class="null"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yrrONGoXiOA/VtBWbPiOwxI/AAAAAAAAAFk/EDaU07zlFiU/s1600/12788320_179535789091338_1058827562_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yrrONGoXiOA/VtBWbPiOwxI/AAAAAAAAAFk/EDaU07zlFiU/s320/12788320_179535789091338_1058827562_o.jpg" width="179" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></li></ul>Adlilke Charleshttps://plus.google.com/103778499893556374043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-22895020984355553612016-01-27T14:44:00.000-08:002016-01-27T14:46:04.770-08:00Getting to Haiti <div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I had the opportunity to visit Haiti, January 1st - January 9th 2016. Our trip all started in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with two professors from the agriculture department, two grad students from UNI, and 2 former agriculture students from Hawkeye, along with one current student at Hawkeye other than myself. While checking in at the airport, we were asked by the airport staff, “What was bringing us down to Haiti?” We basically told them we were going down for mission work.&nbsp; Out of nowhere our baggage tags had priority stickers and our seats changed from the economy seats at the back of the plane to first class, without any of us even noticing. We went on with our interesting flight schedule and landed in Chicago, after spending a couple hours in the airport, we continued, looking out the window of the plane, looking down on Chicago at night was amazing. After leaving Chicago we continued to Charlotte, North Carolina, then to Miami where we spent the night. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2b8YHQdn5OU/VqlH6hOPgDI/AAAAAAAAK2o/qgckDxZtIe0/s1600/20160101_190352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2b8YHQdn5OU/VqlH6hOPgDI/AAAAAAAAK2o/qgckDxZtIe0/s320/20160101_190352.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1027" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:468pt;height:263.4pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg" o:title="20160101_190352"/></v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The next day we finally landed in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Going through the Port Au Prince airport was an interesting experience in itself. I have never been approached by so many people wanting to know if I wanted to buy a souvenir or if we wanted help carrying our bags, but we were told no matter what to tell them no. When they asked for a tip, because they walked you to your car, you politely tell them to talk to your driver, eventually they will give up and leave you alone. Then began the 3 hour ride up the mountains to Cayman, where we were staying. Nothing prepares you for the roads in Haiti because as JeanJean says “Iowa has level B roads and Haiti has level Z roads.” We consider a gravel road in Iowa the worst roads to drive on, driving in Haiti makes our gravel roads feel like an interstate.&nbsp; Roads in Haiti are dirt roads, with deep roots in the middle of the roads. Improving the roads in Haiti aren’t always a main concern because statistically only 2% of people have cars and 5% have a motorcycle. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--rgD9Ofon28/VqlH-l3AZWI/AAAAAAAAK24/YII1jgFgNa8/s1600/IMG_2776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--rgD9Ofon28/VqlH-l3AZWI/AAAAAAAAK24/YII1jgFgNa8/s320/IMG_2776.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:468pt;height:193.8pt; visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.jpg" o:title="IMG_2824 (2)"/></v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After a long bumpy ride we finally arrived and settled. We then took a tour of the UCI Campus. After 10 years, UCI has improved, they now have a university, 7 nutrition centers, 2 worshiping centers, an elementary school, a medical center, and land for university gardens and animals. After our tour of the UCI campus we then went to take a tour of a local farmer’s crop land. The man showed us how he irrigated his gardens, he has raised rows of crops, then runs water through the channels, and he only waters his garden every 15 days. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qvrQ1NNg-1o/VqlH_FDvRqI/AAAAAAAAK28/OfNHV1S8pGM/s1600/IMG_2824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qvrQ1NNg-1o/VqlH_FDvRqI/AAAAAAAAK28/OfNHV1S8pGM/s320/IMG_2824.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: .5in;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:348.6pt;height:260.4pt; visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.jpg" o:title="IMG_2776"/></v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br /></div>Alex Wallerhttps://plus.google.com/108539946028797050896noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-54144971664363606502016-01-20T11:15:00.001-08:002016-05-24T13:50:57.925-07:00Study Abroad In Costa Rica<div class="tG QF" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: justify; width: 0px;"></div><div class="Ct" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #404040; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pFm0nwTyduA/Vp1XXHtprSI/AAAAAAAAAFA/Q88U9rJ0xyo/s1600/IMG_3883.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #009eb8; display: inline; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px !important; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pFm0nwTyduA/Vp1XXHtprSI/AAAAAAAAAFA/Q88U9rJ0xyo/s400/IMG_3883.PNG" style="-webkit-border-image: url(&quot;data:image/png; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 9; border-image-source: url(&quot;data:image/png; border-image-width: 9px; border: 9px none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 10px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="224" /></a></div><div class="Ct" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="Ct" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="Ct" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="Ct" style="background-color: white; color: #404040; font-family: Roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><img src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0sDiOb5xpQ/Vp1W0lDiZeI/AAAAAAAAAEw/qjAA3zWsKp4/s320/IMG_3881.JPG" style="-webkit-border-image: url(&quot;data:image/png; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 9; border-image-source: url(&quot;data:image/png; border-image-width: 9px; border: 9px none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 10px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px;" /><br /><br />.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DVoKeSDxU_A/Vp1XEw00ExI/AAAAAAAAAE4/H2gskoxDu2U/s1600/IMG_3882.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #009eb8; display: inline; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px !important; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DVoKeSDxU_A/Vp1XEw00ExI/AAAAAAAAAE4/H2gskoxDu2U/s320/IMG_3882.PNG" style="-webkit-border-image: url(&quot;data:image/png; border-image-repeat: stretch; border-image-slice: 9; border-image-source: url(&quot;data:image/png; border-image-width: 9px; border: 9px none; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 10px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="291" /></a></div></div>Adlilke Charleshttps://plus.google.com/103778499893556374043noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-63650368839549862302016-01-06T19:18:00.001-08:002016-01-06T19:18:35.187-08:00Use Your Manure<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">This morning started by visiting the 5th and 6th graders again. We discussed the questions they had from yesterday but went more in depth with fertilizer and rabbits. We showed them how you can use manure, plant material but more so the sugarcane remains called bagaz and compost and how it is a good fertilizer source to the crops and the soil.</span><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Animal raising is a very well known agriculture production practice here in Haiti. The only thing is that it is much different then how we do it in the United States. Two students today, one of them being myself discussed hog production and dairy goat production practices used in the United States. It was very informational because us teaching them &nbsp;also gave the opportunity to learn more about how they raise these animals in there own country. Lots of questions were answered by us and the students. After the discussion they thanked us and we're very grateful for what we were doing to help them learn of what is possible for agricultural practices here that they can improve on and we were even grateful that we were able to make discussions and share ideas in production practices.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Next was a little bit of time spent teaching English to the third graders. We taught them some colors and walked them around outside asking them what objects were and how to say it in English and even what color the objects were. We even asked a few students what the word was in Kreyol.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The campus has got a few goats. They showed us what they do with the goats and we even got to pick up them and hold them and pet them. They told us a way to preg check is they hold the mouth and nose shut and when they start shaking there leg then let go and if they pee then they are considered pregnant.&nbsp;</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YfxDqdqS-jY/Vo3WYvCqAGI/AAAAAAAAABk/FGZbGJ8UoUw/s1600/IMG_2815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YfxDqdqS-jY/Vo3WYvCqAGI/AAAAAAAAABk/FGZbGJ8UoUw/s320/IMG_2815.JPG" width="179" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">After playing with the goats we got to walk on a hike to the bat caves up a mountain. Only a few of us though decided to walk farther into the cave and do some rock wall climbing to a different exit farther up the mountain. It was a very long walk where we saw a lot of bats in the caves and different places that voodoo drawings were drawn at. The hike was a short 4 miles there and back but it was a good workout to help work off my winter fat.</div><div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ufDBRkHIa50/Vo3WdxguJ-I/AAAAAAAAABw/gSG4LR0I91A/s1600/IMG_2832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ufDBRkHIa50/Vo3WdxguJ-I/AAAAAAAAABw/gSG4LR0I91A/s320/IMG_2832.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">To end our day, we went to a church service. People from all over the town walk to church no matter what day. Religion is a big part in Haiti and they come to sing and pray and have a good time.&nbsp;</div>Dalton Fangmanhttps://plus.google.com/114118669541110066192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-21006794089371006412016-01-05T18:25:00.000-08:002016-01-05T18:28:51.477-08:00From Garden to MarketWe started out on January 4th by going to a market. Everything could be bought that was imaginable. All of the students tried to buy a goat for a family in need of one but when our group was seen as the buyers, the price jumped dramatically. Since the goat purchase was not successful, we decided to go to the local bakery and buy some delicious bread made by hand.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ucLWqDcQpTA/Vox49zyhBWI/AAAAAAAAAA8/U5iE761OGqk/s1600/IMG_2661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ucLWqDcQpTA/Vox49zyhBWI/AAAAAAAAAA8/U5iE761OGqk/s320/IMG_2661.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />After the market, we took a walk to Saul's irrigation farm that the UCCC students also utilize and plant a variety of crops. The irrigation garden has a cement channel that runs through it with water that is pumped out and used for the growth of crops.<br /><br />Teaching first graders after lunch was an experience that was quite something with words from the colors to the months to even a dance session.<br /><br />Feeding centers in the neighborhood are used for children to get a bite to eat two times a week. There are eight of these centers and we got the opportunity to help hand out the food and then play some games with the children. Each child brings there own bowl and spoon and handed us the bowl to be filled with a rice and beans mixture that even though was very hot, it was consumed in a very quick manner.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UcbYr3XqQ78/Vox5Nlv9WZI/AAAAAAAAABE/LRi76BkhWd8/s1600/IMG_2763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UcbYr3XqQ78/Vox5Nlv9WZI/AAAAAAAAABE/LRi76BkhWd8/s320/IMG_2763.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />January 5th began with a morning of teaching 5th and 6th graders about agriculture. This was even a very good experience to learn more about the agriculture used in Haiti. We then took a trip back to the irrigation gardens to take soil samples with the college students that was later tested. While at the gardens we got to hand plant leeks and to give some suggestions to the students on how to better the production of how they were growing the crops.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22KlIVlVYzw/Vox51H_dm5I/AAAAAAAAABM/JFjICHBBmA0/s1600/IMG_2786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-22KlIVlVYzw/Vox51H_dm5I/AAAAAAAAABM/JFjICHBBmA0/s320/IMG_2786.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />Later on in the evening we went out to the classroom with the students that pulled soil samples and tested them for N, P, K, and pH. We then described to the students the importance of the nutrients in the soil.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFKNlqgIcus/Vox6GdkoK3I/AAAAAAAAABU/8Fvlt0gJHzc/s1600/IMG_2796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFKNlqgIcus/Vox6GdkoK3I/AAAAAAAAABU/8Fvlt0gJHzc/s320/IMG_2796.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />The long day ended with a few games of volleyball and then supper and a few more games with the students and some visitation time to learn more about them.Dalton Fangmanhttps://plus.google.com/114118669541110066192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-46577912198772040342016-01-03T20:28:00.000-08:002016-01-03T20:28:16.613-08:00On the "Level Z" to Haiti<div class="MsoNormal">I am a student from Hawkeye Community College studying abroad in Haiti for the week with 2 faculty members and 6 students and then 2 farmers traveling with us. We will be traveling from January 1,2016 to January 9, 2016.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mKPE0tpWFwA/Vonya4gGONI/AAAAAAAAAAg/9G07xZiTtEY/s1600/IMG_2602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mKPE0tpWFwA/Vonya4gGONI/AAAAAAAAAAg/9G07xZiTtEY/s640/IMG_2602.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Our trip has been a wonderful time starting with the airplane ride. When getting to the airport in Cedar Rapids, it was mentioned what we were doing and ended up on first class from Chicago all the way to Haiti. Our trip though was long because we spent a few hours in airports starting at Cedar Rapids then to Chicago, then out to Charlotte and then Miami before flying to Port Au Prince. After arriving in Haiti we took a 3 hour road trip up the mountains. According to JeanJean the roads here are not level B they are level Z. We got here and got settled in with a campus tour.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Today started out by going to a Sunday school with the little children and then a church session learning about god and his work preached by JeanJean himself. After that we took a bus that has been shortened out to a feeding center to hand out Christmas presents to little Haitian boys and girls. After the handing out of presents we took a drive out to an irrigated garden where the farmer was growing black beans and while we were there he was irrigating it with a pump and having trenches that he allowed the water to flow down. He mentioned that he irrigates the black beans every 8 days and plantains were every 15 days and it takes about 3 hours to irrigate his whole garden. During the dry season he grows black beans and in the wet season it is planted in corn. The beans take around 1 and a half months and corn takes 3 months before harvest. <o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EX4RSgMuYAg/VonzKieszWI/AAAAAAAAAAo/XtSGwIGkJHU/s1600/IMG_2613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EX4RSgMuYAg/VonzKieszWI/AAAAAAAAAAo/XtSGwIGkJHU/s640/IMG_2613.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The final thing done today was a delicious supper of chicken legs and some noodles made by JeanJean’s sister before finally taking a rest for the day under the shade tree talking to one another and having a guest named Nelson who used to be a voodoo witch doctor who is now converted over to the church.<o:p></o:p></div>Dalton Fangmanhttps://plus.google.com/114118669541110066192noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-40680997925065931932015-12-13T23:01:00.001-08:002015-12-13T23:01:56.173-08:00A Helping HandIn this blog I wanted to share something that happened a couple weeks into my stay in Kofu that meant a lot to me, Just to give a little background information, there's a grocery store that's located just about a mile from my dorm that I go to often. The major difference between this and any other grocery store that I've been to is that they don't give you plastic bags, you have to provide your own. I made a trip a couple weeks into my stay here and when I was done shopping I realized that I didn't bring any bags with me. The only one I had was from the dollar store that I had just went to. I tried fitting most of what I could in that and then had my arms full with the rest.<br />I didn't have my bike at this time so I had to walk all the way home awkwardly trying to not drop anything. The bag was pretty heavy since I tried to fit all that I could into it, I probably didn't look like I was having the best of times since I was still trying to get used to my life in Kofu. I was stopped about two blocks away from the store by an elderly lady. I couldn't fully understand what she was saying but she pulled out a couple plastic bags from her purse she had and handed them to me. This was a simple act of kindness but it meant the world to me at that time. I thanked her over and over again trying to hold back tears. This is one of the many examples of the kindness that I've encountered throughout my stay in Japan.devyn christofferhttps://plus.google.com/116037003272624636587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-57295993633095861932015-11-10T03:01:00.000-08:002015-11-10T03:01:33.706-08:00The little thingsI've been studying abroad in Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan for about 4 months now and have had many wonderful experiences. I plan on sharing those in the future but for this post I want to write about something that's been happening recently. For the past week our dorm building's boiler has been broken, which means no hot water. This has been a problem since showering in freezing cold water doesn't sound appealing to me and my dorm mates. There are other options available of course, it's not like we have to shower in the cold water, about half of the residents belong to a gym so they've been showering there and the other half have been going to onsens (public bath houses). I do not belong to a gym nor am I comfortable enough to go to the onsen. My solution to this problem is that I've been heating up water in huge pots and carrying it to my bathtub in my room. I've noticed that these baths feel a million times better than others I've taken. I'm guessing it's because I did more than turn on the faucet. My situation could be much worse, I'm not complaining at all, I've just realized this past week that you really shouldn't take the little things for granted. It could be worse.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CKSLQVzlKEo/VkHJB2JFzjI/AAAAAAAAANY/lLcFSRsHLms/s1600/12212380_10153676653958361_346144142_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CKSLQVzlKEo/VkHJB2JFzjI/AAAAAAAAANY/lLcFSRsHLms/s400/12212380_10153676653958361_346144142_n.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are the pots I used, I had to make about 8 trips each.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />devyn christofferhttps://plus.google.com/116037003272624636587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-68119783892475502812015-10-07T04:24:00.000-07:002015-10-07T04:24:55.448-07:00First couple weeks abroad After the long flight and traveling halfway across the world, I was pretty tired. One of the first things I noticed when I stepped off the flight was the humidity and heat. I knew Kofu, Yamanashi was hot in the summer, but nothing would have prepared me for this. I landed at the Narita Airport in Tokyo, so it was still a two hour drive to Kofu, where I'll be living in a dorm with other international students for ten months.<br /><br />My first week in Japan was a lot of running errands and getting things set up, like my insurance. There was a welcome party held at the dorm for me and a few other residents who arrived a couple weeks before me. That was a lot of fun because all of the dorm residents made food from their native countries. I met a lot of other residents and made some friends too.<br /><br />That night, the dorm residents and I went out for a night of karaoke. I've always wanted to do Japanese karaoke and it was as much fun as I imagined. Japanese karaoke is a bit different than what I'm used to, instead of standing up in front of a huge crowd at a bar, you have your own room with just your friends. It's a lot less nerve wracking that way!<br /><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RH4Z9WyzwkY/VhT3CveOz7I/AAAAAAAAAMw/sERYpPR0lOs/s1600/11666184_10153521789656337_1952306701695728672_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RH4Z9WyzwkY/VhT3CveOz7I/AAAAAAAAAMw/sERYpPR0lOs/s320/11666184_10153521789656337_1952306701695728672_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the welcome party, residents of the dorm and their friends</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gj6CAisOKpQ/VhT3EWZzEuI/AAAAAAAAAM4/iE6c3QD8k0E/s1600/11709456_10153518974331337_3625097446409771684_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gj6CAisOKpQ/VhT3EWZzEuI/AAAAAAAAAM4/iE6c3QD8k0E/s320/11709456_10153518974331337_3625097446409771684_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture of me taken by the dorm manager on my second day in Japan</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rcMD_IDOj0Y/VhT_tM4e7LI/AAAAAAAAANI/jgdcoz6mXFw/s1600/20150710_214641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rcMD_IDOj0Y/VhT_tM4e7LI/AAAAAAAAANI/jgdcoz6mXFw/s320/20150710_214641.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karaoke</td></tr></tbody></table><br />devyn christofferhttps://plus.google.com/116037003272624636587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8425042644782229668.post-28852406647546856032015-09-26T04:52:00.001-07:002015-09-26T04:52:34.515-07:00Study abroad in JapanMy name is Devyn Christoffer and I'm currently studying abroad in Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan for ten months! It's always been a dream of mine to study abroad in Japan. In December my Japanese teacher, Robert Steed, from Hawkeye Community College, told me about a study abroad scholarship from Iowa Sister States.This scholarship allows the recipient the chance to study abroad in Japan for ten months while attending classes while writing a research paper. I decided to apply for the scholarship sort of last minute, since we had found out about it a week before the deadline. I was so nervous, even though I had nothing to lose if I didn't get it but everything to gain if I did. A few weeks passed by and I received an email inviting me in for an interview. I couldn't believe it, I was so happy! I had my interview on a Friday and that Tuesday I received an email stating that I had been chosen for the Scholarship. It seemed like it happened so fast, one minute I was just randomly checking my email and the next I knew I was going to be in Japan in a matter of months!<br />The next few months flew by, trying to get everything ready for my trip, passport, applications, packing, trying to figure out what to take, what I don't need, making sure I had a place for all my things when I was gone. The months passed by like weeks and then the time had arrived. I left the day after the fourth of July, which was perfect. I got to spend the fourth watching fireworks and spending time with my family before I left the country. My flight in total was about 13 hours, thankfully the international flight had a personal TV in the headrest with many movies and TV shows to choose from, it also had a map that showed where we were and how far we had to go. I watched a few movies and a couple episodes of some of the shows so it went by pretty fast. When we arrived at Narita airport in Tokyo, I still couldn't believe that I was actually in Japan. I stepped off the plane, I had finally achieved one of my life's dreams, I was in Japan!!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fF06x30-pK0/VgaGIvfT4jI/AAAAAAAAAMU/kCCCa-v3uf8/s1600/20150705_134632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fF06x30-pK0/VgaGIvfT4jI/AAAAAAAAAMU/kCCCa-v3uf8/s400/20150705_134632.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the movies I watched during the flight</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFr2zPi91Wg/VgaGNiV6WjI/AAAAAAAAAMc/EEO_5tAEQRc/s1600/20150705_214200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFr2zPi91Wg/VgaGNiV6WjI/AAAAAAAAAMc/EEO_5tAEQRc/s400/20150705_214200.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The map that showed where we were</td></tr></tbody></table><br />devyn christofferhttps://plus.google.com/116037003272624636587noreply@blogger.com0